Bio

The Hillsdale College athletic department made a key addition to its staff in August 2015 with the hire of Pat Gifford as its first-ever full-time strength and conditioning coach.

Gifford comes to Hillsdale after spending two years in the same position at Liberty University. He is a 2009 graduate of Michigan State University, where he majored in kinesiology with a concentration in coaching and exercise science.

“It’s exciting to have the chance to build a department and to work with intelligent, driven kids,” Gifford said. “It’s a great opportunity to help be a missing piece that can help our athletes get over the top.”

Hillsdale College Athletic Director Don Brubacher said Gifford is a welcome addition to the staff.

“We are pleased to have Patrick join our athletic department staff as our first Head Strength and Conditioning Coach,” Brubacher said.  “He brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the program that will help our athletes perform on the highest level.”

Gifford will be responsible for designing specialized strength and conditioning programs for all 14 of the Chargers’ varsity programs. He will also be an integral part of the injury recovery program for all varsity athletes.

He is a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa) and is CSCS Certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). While at Liberty, he worked with the men’s basketball, football, baseball and women’s swimming programs.

Prior to his stint at Liberty, Gifford acquired strength and conditioning experience at the college and professional levels. He was an intern in Michigan State University’s strength and conditioning program in 2008-09. He then spent a season as a graduate assistant in the strength and conditioning department at Mississippi State University. He spent the 2013 baseball season as the strength coach for the Batavia Muckdogs – an affiliate of the Miami Marlins – of the New York-Penn League.

Concurrent with his years at Michigan State, Gifford coached high school football and track in the Lansing area.